I'm sure most of us have used the phrase that something is "just like riding a bike" to describe activities that come natural or seem really easy to do. But do you remember learning how to ride a bike? Or have you had to kiss 'boo-boos' and put band-aids on cuts and scrapes while teaching your kids to ride? It turns out that learning to ride a bike is not just like riding a bike. It takes time, effort, and consistent practice with some bumps and bruises along the way.
I have been listening to a number of talks lately that focus on mastery - the absolute mastering of your skill or trade to become one of the best in the world. How do you do that? The plan is simple, but not easy.
Think back to riding a bike, throwing a football, or catching a pop fly. Anyone who's ever played sports would consider these activities second nature. But the first time you did, it was probably a train wreck. When our son throws a football, it looks more like an asteroid hurdling through space. And as routine as a baseball pop fly is to catch, we've all likely taken one off the top of the head (or did I just stink at baseball?).
The first time we attempted this new activity, it was challenge. We took a risk by even trying it. We needed some instruction and coaching in how to do it. We may have benefitted even more with a solid example of how it's done. And then came the part that no one likes to talk about - the repetition and practice.
Why is riding a bike 'just like riding a bike?' Because you've done it for years.
Why can you toss a football with friends now? Because you've thrown hundreds or thousands of passes.
Why can you easily catch a pop up without fear or losing an eye? Because you've practiced it time and time again.
When you are presented with a new challenge or opportunity, conquer it with this process:
I have been listening to a number of talks lately that focus on mastery - the absolute mastering of your skill or trade to become one of the best in the world. How do you do that? The plan is simple, but not easy.
Think back to riding a bike, throwing a football, or catching a pop fly. Anyone who's ever played sports would consider these activities second nature. But the first time you did, it was probably a train wreck. When our son throws a football, it looks more like an asteroid hurdling through space. And as routine as a baseball pop fly is to catch, we've all likely taken one off the top of the head (or did I just stink at baseball?).
The first time we attempted this new activity, it was challenge. We took a risk by even trying it. We needed some instruction and coaching in how to do it. We may have benefitted even more with a solid example of how it's done. And then came the part that no one likes to talk about - the repetition and practice.
Why is riding a bike 'just like riding a bike?' Because you've done it for years.
Why can you toss a football with friends now? Because you've thrown hundreds or thousands of passes.
Why can you easily catch a pop up without fear or losing an eye? Because you've practiced it time and time again.
When you are presented with a new challenge or opportunity, conquer it with this process:
- Accept the challenge and start trying it.
- Work on the challenge until it becomes routine.
- Work on the routine until it becomes mundane.
Riding a bike was hard when we started, but then it got easier, and now it's simple.
You want to be a speaker? Speak.
You want to be a quarterback? Throw.
You want to be a builder? Build
You want to be a dancer? Dance.
You want to be a writer? Write.
You want to be successful? Practice!
Whatever skill or trait it is that you need to be developing, the way for you to truly master it, is by taking hundreds or thousands of practice reps, and listening to your coaches/mentors as you work at it until it truly becomes second nature. We all wrecked the first time we got on a bike...you can master anything with enough practice.
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